Here's another one of those projects that popped up at the American Film Market, but keeping in mind that an insane percentage of movies shopped there don't ever actually make it to production, this one sounds like it has the goods.
THR reports that True Grit star Hailee Steinfeld and Cowboys & Aliens actress Olivia Wilde will star in The Keeping Room for Harry Brown director Daniel Barber. It's a period piece that takes place during the Civil War, following two sisters and a slave (to be played by Shame star Nicole Beharie) who are forced to defend their Southern land from a group of Union soldiers who have broken off from the rest of their unit.
Barber definitely seems to be the right guy to tackle this project, considering Harry Brown also dealt with some of the same themes of standing up against injustice and taking a violent stand for what's right, and it'll be interesting to see how he transitions to a pure period piece for this one. Steinfeld is a fantastic young actress, and though Wilde is adored by the geek crowd, she hasn't proved herself as anything more than eye candy to me as of yet. (Harsh, I know. Apologies.) Here's hoping she can step her game up here.
It's interesting that this project is gaining some traction around the same time as Jane Got A Gun, the Natalie Portman-Michael Fassbender western that sees Portman defending her homestead against outlaws. Hollywood loves developing similar properties at the same time, so it makes sense, but we'll just have to wait and see if this one can make it through the gauntlet of production and if Barber and these actresses can bring us something memorable.
What do you think? Interested in seeing the director of Harry Brown tackle a potentially violent Civil War period piece like this one?